Eye banks, hospitals and surgeons rely on eye bank technicians to prepare eye organs and corneas for transplant surgeries. Eye bank technicians research patients' social and medical histories to find suitable donors, coordinate referrals for donor agencies and obtain the proper signatures from donors' families and recipients. They also analyze blood samples and tissues for compatibility. Some eye bank technicians also extract eye organs and corneas. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies eye bank technicians as medical and clinical laboratory technicians. Their salaries can vary, depending on their experience level and the state or district in which they work.

Salary Between $45,000 and $50,000

The average annual salary for an eye bank technician was $47,000 as of 2014, according to the job site Indeed. The minimum educational requirement for this job is typically an associate degree in biology or chemistry. Eye bank technicians also must take and pass the certification exam to become Certified Eye Bank Technicians, which is sponsored by the Eye Bank Association of America. Most of these technicians are trained on the job. Some employers may prefer hiring those with two or more years of industry experience, especially those who extract eyes and corneas from donors. Other essential requirements are attention to detail, manual dexterity, physical stamina, a flexible schedule and computer skills.

Top Pay in D.C. and New York

In 2014, average salaries for eye bank technicians varied the most in the West region, according to Indeed, where they earned the lowest salaries of $30,000 in Hawaii and the highest salaries of $50,000 in California. Those in the South made $40,000 to $57,000 per year in Louisiana and Washington, D.C., respectively. Eye bank technicians averaged $53,000 in Illinois and $34,000 in Nebraska -- the highest and lowest salaries in the Midwest. In the Northeast, they made the most in New York and the least in Maine at $57,000 and $40,000, respectively.

Earn More Than Lab Technicians

While eye bank technicians made $47,000 in 2014, according to Indeed, average salaries for medical and clinical laboratory technicians were $39,340 as of May 2012, according to the BLS. Eye bank technicians may earn more because they examine and sterilize entire organs rather than tissues. Some also extract the eyes from donors, which requires more technical knowledge. They also coordinate the donor process and obtain authorization from donors.

Promising Job Outlook

The BLS estimates a 30 percent increase in jobs for medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, including eye bank technicians, from 2012 to 2022, which is much faster than the 11 percent national rate for all occupations. Population increases among elderly Americans, who will require more eye and cornea transplants, should increase jobs for all medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians.